Motor-driven score drums



- June 25, 1968 H. 5. R055 ET MOTOR-DRIVEN scom: mums 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5. 1966 June 25, 1968 H. 5. R085 ET AL MOTOR-DRIVEN SCORE DRUMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1966 June 25, 1968 H. 5. R058 ET AL MOTOR-DRIVEN SCORE DRUMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1';

Filed July 5. 1966 United States Patent R- R N, SC RE D UMS I z Henry SJRoss' 'and Marcine Pcwolverton, both of 10136'Pacific', Franklin Park,'lll-.' 60-131 1 Filed July 5,1966, Ser.No:562,689 --Claims.=(Cl'. 235'-=-144)' I Thisinvention relates to motor-driven score drums and more particularly-to,indicia bearing SCGIB=dIUIl1S-MtlliZd in apparatuses wherein a progressive numbercounting or registration-Sis Zto'be visually indicated. 1'

3,389,857 Patented June 25, 1968 ice the-hub =11'of-each of the drums 10 is a shaft'21. The

:-:A principal; object; of .the'invention' is= to provide in a device, of this character a. motor-drivenmeansfonadvancinga single numbered drum on! plurality of numbered drums through various positions and; by reversibleaction of the motor-drivem means, return or reset the drum 0 drum-s *tOeiIhcrgthe originator zero-position.

an apparatus of this character ofrotatably mounting a a plurality of individual score-indicating-drumsron-a single continuously rotatingshaft and electromagnetic means forreleasablyholding, each drum against rotation with the shaft and a friction clutch for each drum for tindependently effecting rotation of the individualdrums with the shaft in either directionwhen the same are released forzrot'ation'by the electromagnetic means. 1

. .Presently the accepted method of advancinga plurality of indicating drums includes an electromagnetic{solenoid for eachrdrum-operable: in amanner such that with each" energization of the. solenoid the drum is :"mechanically stepped a predetermined distance. To" accomplisha multi-' tude of: stepslor a'fipredetermined.distance of rotation of each of the drums, the electromagnetic solenoid must be periodically .energized. This arrangement requires a large qu antity of: parts and: electrical connections and results in a-slow and blatantoperation. Thepresentinvention shaft 21 extends beyond the end wall 19 andprovides a flat portion-22 whichby asuitable sleeve 23 (see FIG. 4.); may be mounted to a-driving shaft 24 hereinafter described. s

The support -'which extends between the end walls 18 and 19 provides a base 25 and a vertical wall 26 to which is'conne'cted bymeans of a screw 27 or the like a plurality of-electromagnetic means 28. The electromagnetic meansv 28 iiicludes. a magnetically attracted latch platei=29having at its. free end a latch'finger- 30-whichis Another object of this invention :is :the provisionoin adapted to engage Jeither'the stop, shoulders :14 orthe recessed lock port 15 formed on the one edge of the peripheral flange'13 of the drum 10. The latch plate '29 is maintained .in latching position by means of a spring 31 which extends betweenon'e end of the latch plate 29 and a lug 32 provided by the base 25 of the support 20. Asshown in FIG. 1, there is an electromagnetic means 28 for each of the individual drums 10 mounted as a unit.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown the shaft 21 which supports. the plurality of: drums 10 as a unit. This shaft overcomes .theseobjections by the structuralarrangement t herein described; a 'Other objects'willappear hereinafter.z.. ".The invention consists in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. J m p The inventionzwill be bestunderstood by reference to thenaccompanying drawings showing-the preferred form ofconstructiomandin which: I :v

FIG; 1 is a perspectiveview of onerunit of indicating drums and the mounting structure therefor; y r 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the indicating drurnsy. i

FIG.'3 is a sidevelevationalview of one drum and its associated mounting and operative structure; a r :FIG. =4iS1-BI1 elevational view showing the compact mounting frame fora plurality of unitsas well as. the motor-driven means therefor; v v t FIG;.5 is-a side ele'vationalviewofthe motor-driven mounting means; 1 e I isprovided with a longitudinally extending slot'33, forming .a =keyway which receives an internal key 34 formed on the inner wall 35 of 'an aperture-36 formed in an anti-friction washer 37. The :anti-friction washer 37 is 1.. disposed on the shaft 21, with the key 34 in the slot 33 and with the washer 37 in facial abutment with one edge of the hub 11 of'the drum 10. Embracing the'sh'aft 21 between washers 37 of the endmost drums 40 and 41 and the inner adjacent drums, is a coil spring 38 having sufficient expansion force to create a rotating movement between the drums and the shaft when the former are released as-hereinafter described. To maintain all of the 39" which receives a split O-ring fastener 39.

i Y The frictional clutch connection between the shaft 21 washers 37 and drums 10 is sufficient to cause rotation of each or all of the drums when they 'are released from their latched position. Thus, when viewing the unit as shown in FIG. 1, when the electromagnetic means 28 which is associated with the endmost drum 40 is caused to be energized, its latch plate 29 will be pivoted so that its latch finger 30 is withdrawn from holding contact with either the stop shoulder 14 or withdrawn out of the lock port 15, permitting such drum to rotate with the shaft 21 until the electromagnetic coil 28 is de- FIG. 6 is a side elevational view the motor-driven mounting meanswith a side cover-removed; a

FIG. 7 is a 'fragmentary'exploded viewof the friction clutch-arrangement'as employed in thisinvention.

The istructuralarrangement of this invention includes a drum 10 which isxconstructed'of a light-weight onepiece molded unit formedof a translucent therrn'o-plastic material. Ihedrum 10 consists .of athollowhub 11 and radially extending -spokes -12 ;which;in turn support a peripheral fiangelS, On'oneedgeofathe peripheralaflange 13 -i s .-'forme l a plurality of raised stop .shoulders 14 as well as a recessed lock port 15. In the oppositelcdgfi-pf the vperipheral flange 13 is carried. a cam member 16 which has a "cam surface 17 extending tangentiallyb'eyond the surface of'the peripheral flange 13 Indicia-bearing ,drums of the type just deseribe'd may energized and its latch 'plate 29 again engages a stop shoulder 14 or is displaced into the lock port 15. By this arrangement, the rotation of the drum'is controlled through 'a period of time, which is that period that its associated electromagnetic means is energized. If all of the electromagnetic means shown in FIG. '1 were simultaneously energized, all of the score drums would be free to rotate. Thus, there is provided a simple yet effective method of rotating adrum-or a plurality of drums for a predetermined time. a a When the unit as shown' in FIG. 1 is caused to be actuated so as to register a numeric value greater than 9, 99, or 199 it is necessary to-etfect a rotation of two or -more,--or 'allof the drums 10A, 10B; 10C and lthD.

This may be accomplishednotwithstanding that only one on the edge of the peripheral flange 13 of the respective energization of one of the electromagneticmeans 26', the y advancement of two or more drums has been accomplished and a number registrationgreater than a unit count is-visually-indicated':= r n i The: means for rotating the-shaft 2 1 is containedin a housing 42-andincl-udes an electricalreversible motor 43 carried by '-a-mounting-plate 44. 'Ihe mounting plate 4.4 is pivotally connected as at:45 to a protruding flange 46 carried by the top wall 47 of the housing 40. The opposite end of the mounting plate is adjustably' connected to a bracket-48 carried bythe top wall 47 by means ofa threaded bolt--49 which passes through the mounting pl'ate 44 and is threaded intothe bracket 48. Coiled about the bolt 49. and disposed between the bracket 48 and plate 44 is a coil spring 50 which normally urges the mounting plate 44 the housing 42. I

' The motor 43 includes a rotatable shaft 51. A pulley 52. embraces the shaft 51 as well as 'a pulley wheel 53 positioned within the housing 42.-The pulley wheel 53 new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is: r

away from the top wall 47 of includes a sprocket gear .54 which is adapted to mesh with a sprocket wheel 55 rotatably connected to adriven shaft 56. Also fixedly mounted on the shaft 56 is a second sprocket wheel 57 which through a chain 58 drives a: sprocket wheel 59 fixedly mounted on a second driven shaft 60. Mountedon the driven shafts 56 and 60 are a pair of pulley wheels 61 and 62, respectively, about Whichare strung flexible pulleys 63 and 64, which in turn embrace and drive pulley wheels 65 and66 fixed- 1y connected to driven shafts 67 and 68. By this arrangement, the single motor 43 rotates a plurality of driven shafts 56, 60, 67 and 68. To maintain-proper tension and driving connection of the flexible pulleys 63 and 64, there are provided adjustable idler wheels 69 and 70 asshowninFIG. 6. l I H The housing 42 is carried by a center plate 71 connected by screws 72 and the like to the top wall 73 and. bottom wall 74 and between and equallyv spaced from the side walls 75 and 76 of a mounting frame 77 as seen in FIG. 4. The side walls 75 and 76 as well as the center plate 71 provide adjacent their confronting connector terminals for easy and convenient disconnection from anelectrical conductor. By this arrangement the score drum mounting units as well as the housing 42 may be readily removed for repair or replacement.

'In the operation of the device, when one of the eleccircuit for a predeterminedperiod of time, .the latch plate 29 associated therewith will be magnetically attracted so as to remove the latch finger 30 momentarily from Contact. with the stop shqulder 14 T lock 9 rotated with said shaft in' either direction. 15, to permit the drum assoc ated therewith to be mstantaneously rotated with the shaft 21, which in turn is continuously rotated by the energization of the motor 43. 1

- Upon deenergization of theelectromagnetic means-28,

the spring 31 will again-pivot the latch, plate 29, so

thatits latch finger 30 will ride on the p'eripheral edge of the flange 13 and, in the normal case of advanced 1 not energized;

While we have illustrated and described the preferred forrn of'construction' forcarrying ourinvention into cifect, this is 'capable' of variation and: modification withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention-We, there fore,"do :not wish" to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scopeof'the appended claims.

Having thus-described our invention, what we claim as 1. A'number-display rotatable drum-having a center hub portion and aperipheral indicia-bearing flange and including 1 (a)-a rotatable shaft journalled throughsaid hub for supporting and rotating said drum in either direction,

(b) means carried by said shaft and engageable with said hub for frictionally' rotatably connecting said drum to'said shaft, W V (c) said peripheral indicia-bearing flange of said drum havingrformed "on one edge' thereof stop shoulders "cooperating with a latch meansvfor preventing rotational movement of the drum with said shaft in one direction,-- 0' I (d)- latch-means engagingsaid stop shoulders and having a first position holding said drum against rotation with said shaft in one direction while permitting rotational movement of said drum in an opposite direction, and a second position permitting rotation of said drum with said shaft in either-direction, (e) means for moving said latch means between its first and secondpositions, (f) means connected to said shaft for continuously rotating said shaft-incither' direction, (g)--and a -second means on said one edgeof said peripheral indicia bearing 'flangeof said drum cooperating with said latch means when in its first position for preventing rotation of the drum =with said a shaft in either direction; 2 I i 2. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said means carried by saidt'shaft and engaging'thehub of said drum for frictionallyrotatably connecting the'sametogether, includes friction'washers connected to and rotatable with said shaft on'opposite-sides of said hub and spring means for yieldably urging said friction washers in contact with said hub with sufficient pressure. to impart rotational movement to said drum when said latch means is in its second Position: 1 t

3. A device asdefined-by claim 1' wherein said means for moving said'latch means between its first and second positions includes electromagnetic means energizable for tromagnetrcmeans 28 isenerglzed through a suitable a=predetermined period of time for magnetically moving said latch means out of its first position wherein it holds said drum against-rotation with said shaft in one direction, and into-saidsecond position permitting medium to be for continuously rotating saidv shaft in either direction includes an electrical reversible motor.

7. A device as defined by claim 1 wherein said second means on said one edge of said peripheral indicia-bearing flange of said drum which cooperates with said latch means when in its first position for preventing rotation of said drum with said shaft in either direction, includes a lock port having opposite side shoulders extending perpendicularly to the peripheral edge of said drum and of a size to receive a portion of said latch means to prevent rotation of the drum in either direction when said latch means is in its first position.

8. A mounting frame for a plurality of registering units including (a) top, bottom and side frame members,

(b) said frame members removably receiving a plurality of ,indici-a-bearing registering unit supports having end wall members between which is journalled a rotatable supporting shaft,

(c) means provided by said frame members for removably connecting each of said unit supports independently thereto whereby each of said unit supports may be removed and replaced without disrupting the registering operation of the remaining units,

(d) motor means carried by said mounting frame for continuously rotating each of said supporting shafts in each of said unit supports in either direction,

(e) means for connecting said motor means individually to each of said supporting shafts,

(f) a removable housing for said motor means carried by said frame perpendicularly to each of said unit supports,

(g) a plurality of registering drums freely mounted on each of said shaftsof each unit support in side-byside relation between said end wall members and in parallel relation to said housing for said motor means,

(h) and means provided by each of said unit supports for controlling the duration and direction of rotation'of each of said drums mounted on said supporting shafts.

9. A mounting frame for a plurality of registering units as defined by claim 8 wherein said means for controlling the duration and direction of rotation of said supporting shafts includes electromagnetic means energizable for a predetermined period of time and having a latch member for each of said drums mounted on each of said shafts.

10. A mounting frame for a plurality of registering units as defined by claim 8 wherein said means provided by said frame member for removably connecting each of said unit supports includes locating studs projecting laterally therefrom into openings formed in said end wall members of each of said supporting units.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,419,762 4/ 1947 Bugg 235-144 2,544,610 3/ 1951 Nelson 235-92 2,698,033 12/1954 Ammann et al. -92.2 3,260,455 7/1966 Melville et al. 235-132 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN J. TO'MSKY, Examiner. 

1. A NUMBER-DISPLAY ROTATABLE DRUM HAVING A CENTER HUB PORTION AND A PERIPHERAL INDICIA-BEARING FLANGE AND INCLUDING (A) A ROTATABLE SHAFT JOURNALLED THROUGH SAID HUB FOR SUPPORTING AND ROTATING SAID DRUM IN EITHER DIRECTION, (B) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID HUB FOR FRICTIONALLY ROTATABLY CONNECTING SAID DRUM TO SAID SHAFT, (C) SAID PERIPHERAL INDICIA-BEARING FLANGE OF SAID DRUM HAVING FORMED ON ONE EDGE THEREOF STOP SHOULDERS COOPERATING WITH A LATCH MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM WITH SAID SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION, (D) LATCH MEANS ENGAGING SAID STOP SHOULDERS AND HAVING A FIRST POSITION HOLDING SAID DRUM AGAINST ROTATION WITH SAID SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE PERMITTING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID DRUM IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND A SECOND POSITION PERMITTING ROTATION OF SAID DRUM WITH SAID SHAFT IN EITHER DIRECTION, 